Means for flanging soft-metal pipes



P. MUELLER ET AL MEANS FOR FLANGING SOFT METAL PIPES Filed Nov. 12, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 mermmmg f 6 @cfi. 30, W23. 11,472,278

P. MUELLER ET AL MEANS FOR FLANGING SOFT METAL PIPES Filed Nov. 12, 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 awe/Mow, l k251i jfwezzezz;

abtmnuaq Oct. 30, 1923.

F. MUELLER ET AL MEANS FOR FLANGING SOFT METAL PIPES Filed Nov. 12, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 30, 1923.

UNITED STATES Warn Parent @FFWE.

PHILIP MUELLER ANT) ANTON G. SCHUEIRMANN, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS 1'0 ADOLPE MUELLER, TRUSTEE, F DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

MEANS FOR FLANGING SOFT-METAL PIPES.

Application filed November 12, 1919. Serial No. 337,499.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, PHILLP MUELLER and ANTON C. SGHU'ERMANN, citizens of the United States, residin county of Macon and tate of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Means for Flanging Soft-Metal Pipes, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in means for flanging soft metal pipes, being particularly adapted for forming a flange or lead pipe to adapt it for connection in union lead flange couplings such as are employed to connect street mains with house 1 service pipes.

The particular object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient means for forming such flanges on soft metal pipes which may be used whether the pipe to be flanged is supported horizontally or vertically. The

means may be mounted on a bench or a plank or other suitable support arranged in or across the ditch in which the service pipe is placed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a fianging means, e clamping jaws being shown open and parts of the pipe and lower jaw in section.

Figure 2 is an end View, partly broken away. a

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the tool employed for preliminarily flaring the end of the tube or pipe in position.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the finishing tool in position.

Figures 5 and 6 are detail views of a trimmer and cutting device adapted for trimming the flange.

Fi ure 7 shows the trimming tool in position in the end of a flanged pipe and means for rotating it.

' Figure 8 shows the position of some of the parts when the pipe to be operated on is arranged vertically.

Figures 9 and 10 are details of the flanging tools.

Figure 11 is a detail of one of the bushings or linings of the pipe clamping jaws.

Figure 12 illustrates a connection or union of the character in which pipes flanged by means hereinafter to be described may be employed.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates I the lower jaw of a pipe clamp which is proat Decatur, in the gllan of a portion of the t vided with an extension 2 adapted to be connected, by screws 3, with an angular base 4. The base is secured to a suitable board or other support 5 by bolts 6.

A movable jaw 7 is pivotally connected at one side to the jaw 1 and in the opposite edge thereof is formed a slot 7 adapted to receive a screw 8 pivotally mounted on the stationary jaw and on which is fitted a nut 9 by means of which the two jaws may be held in closed relation and in clamping engagement with a pipe 10. Each jaw is provi ed with a liner or bushing 11 held in place by screw bolts 12 that extend through suitable passages in the jaws. By making the liners or bushings 11 of the required thickness the device is adapted for use with pipes of different diameter.

At one end the bushings or liners 11 are suitably recessed to provide a cavity adapted to receive the body of a sleeve or collar 13 against which the end of the tube 10 project ingxfrom the jaws is adapted to be flanged.

As shown in Figures 1 to 7, the jaws are positioned horizontally, the projection 2 extending vertically andbeing secured against the vertical face of the upwardly extending portion of the base 4:. The said base is, however, provided with vertically extending sockets l4 and by removing the screws 3 from the horizontal sockets in said base and screwing them into the sockets 14: the jaws will be positioned, as shown in Figure 8, to engage a pipe extending vertically.

After a tube has been properly positioned between the jaws and the collar 13 placed thereon the clamping nut 9 is actuated to bring the jaws in to close engagement with the pipe and then the rough or flaring tool 20 designed for preliminarily expanding the end of the tube is inserted as shown in Figure 3 and struck with a suitable hammer. As shown, this tool comprises a taperingbody terminating in a recess 21 adjacent the head 22 and it is driven into the end of the pipe until said recess is filled, as shown in Figure 3. It will be noted that when the radial projection or shoulder of the tool is brought into contact with the end of the pipe and a longitudinal compression is applied to the tool, the flared end of the tube will be thickened under this compression, as clearly shown in Figure 7.

It will be seen that the annular stop surrounding the body great importance.- It insures that the end of the tube will be uniformly, pirelimtinarily, expanded at all points in its circumference and to a definite extent. Unless such a stop were provided it would be very difficult to determine when the tube had been sufficiently expanded or to insure that all portions thereof were expanded to the same extent.

The tool QO-is'then removed and the finishing tool 25 forced into the pipe to complete the flange thereof. The finishing tool is provided with a center portion 25 adapted to fit closely within the bore of the pipe and has a head 27 projecting directly radially from said body so that when it is driven into the pipe, as shown in Figure 4, the end of the pipe will be formed into a flange extending across the outer end of the sleeve or collar 13.

After the pipe has been thus flanged, a trimming or cutting tool is employed to remove the portions of the flange that project radially beyond the periphery of the sleeve or collar 13. As shown, this comprises a body 30 which is provided at one end with a shank 31 adapted to be engaged in the socket of an ordinary brace 32 and at its opposite end is provided with a bushing 33, the body of which is of the same diameter as the interior of the pipe to be operated on. The bushing 33 is removable from the body 30, being held in place by a screw 34 so that bushings of different diameters may be readily employed to adapt the tool for use with pipes of different sizes. A cutter 36 is adjustably connected with an arm 37 that is secured in a passage extending through the body 30 and held in the desired position therein by a set screw.

To position the cutter. at the desired distance from the body 30, a removable disk or templet 39 is provided. When it is desired to use the trimming tool, a templet 39 of the same diameter as the outer end of the sleeve or collar 13 is slipped over the bushing 33 and the knife carrier 37 properly adjusted in the body 30 and secured in such position. The templet is then removed and the end of the tool inserted in the flanged end of the pipe 10. By turning the tool by means of the brace 32 the knife 36 will remove the surplus metal of the flange and leave the same flush with the end of the sleeve or' collar 13.

It will be understood that in using the tools 20 and 25 the parts thereof which are to engage the metal of the pipe 10 will be suitably lubricated before said tools are driven into the end of the pipe.

To assist in properly positioning the pipe 10 with relation to the jaws of the clamp, a

stop arm 40 is pivotally mounted on the relatively fixed jaw so that it can,"as shown 1 a horizontal seat or face,

of the expander is of' in Figure 1, be turned to extend into the path of the pipe 10 and constitute an abutment against which the end thereof to be flanged will bear when'the pipe, is initially inserted in the clamp. As shown, this stop or gauge is mounted on the rod or bolt which constitutes the hinge connection between the two 'aws,- but it is obvious that the auge may loe otherwise connected with the aws if desired.

By employing bushings 11- and tools 20, and 25 of proper sizes, the means described is adapted for flanging soft metal tubes of any desired diameter. When in use the projections of the fianging tools effectually prevent crushing of the pipe walls and the clamp may be readily applied by any workman to the pipe to be treated, whether the same be in a horizontal or vertical position.

It will be noted that the stop arm 40 is adjustable only about the axis of its pivotal connection with the stationary jaw. That is said stop-is adjustable only in a direction transverse to the length of the pipe being flanged. As hereinbefore described, device or apparatus is adapted for use with pipes of different diameter by employing appropriate liners or bushings 11. That is, the apparatus includes a plurality or series of sets of bushings, each properly proportioned for use with a particular thickness of pipe. No skill on the part of the operator in properly positioning the end of the pipe to be flanged is required, other than to select the bushings which are prepared for that particular size of pipe. Each particular set of bushings is adapted for use only with a pipe of corresponding diameter. Obviously different sets of bush ings, having flanges varying in length so that their outer ends will be spaced a proper and predetermined distance from the stop 40, may be used.

This feature of providing an apparatus with a separate bushing for each of the different sizes or thicknesses of pipe to be treated andusing in connection therewith a relatively fixed .stop enables an operator to properly flange a ipe without requiring unusual skill on his part, it being merely necessary to select the pair of bushings corresponding to the particular size of pipe to be flanged.

No claim is herein made to the particular trimming tool illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7, as claims to this subject matter are presented in a divisional aplplication, filed Se tember 26, 1923, Serial 0. 664,939.

aving thus described the invention, what I clamping jaws, one of which is provided with an attaching lug adapted to be positioned against either the vertical or the horizontal seat or face of the supporting member, and a common fastening means adapted to secure said lug to either said vertical or horizontal face of the supporting member.

2. In a means for flanging soft metal pipes, the combination of a pair of pipe engaging jaws, adapted to receive a portion of a pipe to be flanged and a collar fitted about the pipe and against which the flange is to be formed, said collar projecting beyond the adjacent ends of the jaws, and a stop movable only in a direction transverse to the length of the bore for the pipe in the jaws in a plane at a fixed distance from the collar supporting end of the jaws, for the purpose described.

3. In a means for flanging soft metal pipes, the combination of apair of hinged jaws, a pair of bushings detachably secured to said jaws and projecting at one end therefrom, the projecting ends of the bushings being provided with a seat to receive a collar on a pipe to be flanged and against which the flange is formed, means for se-' curing the jaws and bushings in clamping engagement with a pipe and collar thereon, and a stop, arranged at a definite fixed distance from" the end of the jaws from which the bushings project, against which the end of the pipe to be flanged will abut when said pipe is in proper flanging position with relation to the jaws and bushings.

4. In a meansfor flanging soft metal pipes, the combination of a plurality of pipe engaging jaws hingedly connected and adapted to be closed to form a pipe receiving bore, and a stop carried by said jaws, said stop being freely movable transversely of the bore of the jaws when in closed position but secured against longitudinal movement relative to said bore.

5. In a means for flanging soft metal pipes, the combination of a pluralit of pipe engaging jaws hingedly connecte and adapted to be closed to form a pipe receiv-.

ing bore, and an L-shaped stop movably supported by the jaws so that one arm thereof may be positioned transversely of the bore formed by the jaws when closed, said stop being positively held from. movement longitudinally of said axis.

6. In a means for Hanging soft metal pipes, the combination of a pair of hingedly connected pipe engaging jaws adapted to receive a portion of a pipe to be flanged, and a stop movable transversely to the axis of the bore of the pipe, said stop having an arm provided with means for forming the hinge connection between the said jaws.

7. In a means for flanging soft metal pipes, the combination of a plurality of jaws hingedly connected and adapted when closed to form a bore to receive a pipe to be flanged, and means secured to said jaws and adapted to be adjusted to and from a position to constitute a stop to movement of the pipe in one direction through said bore,

said means being limited to movement in a direction transverse of the bore.

8. In a means for flanging soft metal pipes, the combination of a pair of pipe engaging jaws, a bushing detachably secured to said jaws and projecting at one end therefrom, and a stop ivotally secured to said jaws for limiting t emovement of the pipe in one direction.

9. An implement for flanging metal tubes comprising a longitudinally tapered body adapted to be forced into and spread the end of a tube, said implement being provided with a radial projection extending at such an angle to the tapered surface of the implement, as to engage and thicken the flared end of the tube under longitudinal compression.

10. An implement for flanging metal tubes comprising a longitudinally tapered body adapted to be forced into and spread the end of a tube, said implement being provided with a radial projection extending at such anangle to the tapered surface of the implement that it will abut squarely against the flared end of the tube to check the ingress of the tapered body into the tube.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

- PHILIP LLER.

ANTON C. SCI-IUER. 

